Apparatus and method for producing foam

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for producing foam whereby said apparatus comprises a solution chamber, a gas inlet, a perforated membrane, a foam formation chamber and an exit port.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the production of foam. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which capable of creating foam and a method for creating foam whereby the apparatus is simple to manufacture and to operate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The production of foam is one that has fascinated persons for some time. Foam may be used as a toy, item of entertainment, or even to decorate. There have been numerous attempts on the part of inventors to create foam to suit their needs. U.S. Pat. No. No. 53,692 issued in 1866 was directed to producing foam while dispensing beer. The inventor recognized a desire to dispense “foaming beer or other liquids to any degree desired.” Here was an early recognition of foam used in delivery of a beverage. The foam may have been intended as enhancing both the beverage and the aesthetic presentation of the beverage. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,252 issued to Tasaki et al. in 1990 relates to a nozzle cap affixed to an inlet source, whereby a foaming cylinder creates foam in receiving the liquid from an inlet source. U.S. Pat. No. No. 6,708,902 issued in 2004 to Takeshi et al. relates to a foam water delivery port whereby an aerator is attached to a water inlet source. Said aerator functions to produce the desired foam. U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,286 relates to a toy whereby bubbles are produced in bath water. Each of these concepts contain a common feature, there must be an external supply of liquid in order to produce the foam desired. The present invention has addressed this deficiency and provided a single unit whereby no inlet source of liquid is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing foam.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for making foam whereby said apparatus may produce foam shapes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for making foam intended to be used as a toy or item of entertainment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process for creating foam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section, side view of the assembled apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross section, side view of the separated apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross section, side view from above the apparatus in which the exit port has a cover that will facilitate formation of the foam into an extruded shape.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment whereby said apparatus is secured to the edge of a swimming pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An apparatus for producing foam comprising:

-   -   (a) a solution chamber;     -   (b) a gas inlet in said solution chamber     -   (c) perforated membrane;     -   (d) foam formation chamber; and     -   (e) exit port.

The apparatus has a solution chamber wherein said solution chamber retains a solution comprising at least one solvent. This solvent may be either organic, aqueous, or a cosolvent comprising at least one aqueous and at least one organic solvent. The solvent in said solution chamber further comprises at least one surfactant which may be at least one ionic surfactant, at least one non-ionic surfactant, or any combination thereof.

The apparatus further comprises a gas inlet to supply gas from outside the apparatus to the interior of the apparatus. The gas may be any gas desired. The desired gas may include, but would not be limited to air, nitrogen, helium, or any inert gas. In one embodiment, the gas may be supplied to the interior solution chamber of the apparatus at a pressure between 0.1-60 psi, preferably 0.1-40 psi. In one embodiment the gas may be supplied at a pressure between 0.1-20 psi.

The apparatus comprises a perforated membrane formed with a plurality of perforations along opposing surfaces of said membrane. The perforations allow for the solution in said solution chamber to be transported through the membrane and into a foam formation chamber. The physical shear of the solution passing through the perforations combined with aeration of gas supplied through the inlet port commences the formation of the foam along the surface of the membrane that is in the foam formation chamber.

The perforated membrane may be formed of rubber, plastic, polymer or metal. Further, the size and shape of the perforations in the membrane may vary depending on the physical and chemical characteristics of the solution placed in the solution chamber. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an exit port that is substantially round. In another embodiment the exit port may be covered with either a fixed or removable/changeable cover whereby the foam exiting the apparatus may be extruded into a shape. It is also contemplated to have a process for producing foam.

A process for producing foam comprising:

-   -   (a) filling a solution chamber with a solution formulated to         produce foam;     -   (b) attaching a perforated membrane to the open end of the         solution chamber;     -   (c) attaching a foam formation chamber to the solution chamber         such that said perforated membrane is positioned between said         solution chamber and said foam formation chamber;     -   (d) introducing gas into said solution chamber through a gas         inlet;     -   (e) continued application of gas until foam exits the foam         producing chamber.

The process comprises filling a solution chamber with a solution. Said solution chamber retains a solution comprising at least one solvent. This solvent may be either organic, aqueous, or a cosolvent comprising at least one aqueous and at least one organic solvent. The solvent in said solution chamber further comprises at least one surfactant which may be at least one ionic surfactant, at least one non-ionic surfactant, or any combination thereof.

The process further comprises a gas inlet to supply gas from outside the apparatus to the interior of the apparatus. The gas may be any gas desired. The desired gas may include, but would not be limited to air, nitrogen, helium, or any inert gas. In one embodiment, the gas may be supplied to the interior solution chamber of the apparatus at a pressure between 0.1-60 psi, preferably 0. 1-40 psi. In one embodiment the gas may be supplied at a pressure between 0.1-20 psi. Because the operating pressure may be small, it is possible, in one embodiment for a person to blow exhaled air into the apparatus to produce the foam. In an alternative embodiment, one may use a hand pump similar to a conventional bicycle pump in order to supply air through the gas inlet and into the solution chamber. In yet another embodiment, one may utilize any manual, mechanical or electric pump to supply air through the gas inlet and into the solution chamber.

The process further comprises a perforated membrane formed with a plurality of perforations along opposing surfaces of said membrane. The perforations allow for the solution in said solution chamber to be transported through the membrane and into a foam formation chamber. The physical shear of the solution passing through the perforations combined with aeration of gas supplied through the inlet port commences the formation of the foam along the surface of the membrane that is in the foam formation chamber.

The perforated membrane may be formed of rubber, plastic, polymer or metal. Further, the size and shape of the perforations in the membrane may vary depending on the physical and chemical characteristics of the solution placed in the solution chamber. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an exit port that is substantially round. In another embodiment the exit port may be covered with either a fixed or removable/changeable cover whereby the foam exiting the apparatus may be extruded into a shape.

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 5 which comprises a solution chamber 10 whereby said solution chamber has a gas inlet 20 in said solution chamber. The foam formation chamber 40 is separated from the solution chamber 10 by a perforated membrane 30. In one embodiment the apparatus has a curved portion 50 to the foam formation chamber 40 which directs the foam towards an exit port 55. Opposite the end of foam formation chamber 40 from perforated membrane 30 is an exit port 55.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 5 separated at perforated membrane 30. The separation allows the user to fill the solution chamber 10 with solution to be used to create foam. Once a solution is placed into solution chamber 10 the perforated membrane 30 is placed between solution chamber 10 and foam formation chamber 40 and solution chamber 10 and foam formation chamber 40 are secured together.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section, side view from above the apparatus 5 in which the exit port 55 has a cover 60 that will facilitate formation of the foam into an extruded shape. In the shown embodiment, the foam will be extruded into a shape to form the letter “A.” This is only one embodiment. It is understood that the cover may be used to create any shape.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment whereby said apparatus 5 is secured to the edge of a swimming pool 100. In this embodiment, the user used a plunger 80 to force air into the solution chamber through the aforementioned gas inlet.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An apparatus for producing foam comprising: a. a solution chamber; b. a gas inlet in said solution chamber; and c. perforated membrane.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a foam formation chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an exit port.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solution chamber retains a solution comprising at least one solvent.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber is organic or aqueous.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber is aqueous.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber is a cosolvent comprising at least one aqueous and at least one organic solvent.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber further comprises at least one surfactant.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said surfactant is an ionic or non-ionic surfactant.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gas inlet supplies gas from outside the apparatus to the interior of the apparatus.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said gas is supplied through said gas inlet at a pressure between 0.1-60 psi.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said gas is supplied through said gas inlet at a pressure between 0.1-40 psi.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said gas is supplied through said gas inlet at a pressure between 0.1-20 psi.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said perforated membrane is formed with a plurality of perforations along opposing surfaces of said membrane.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said perforated membrane is formed of rubber, plastic, polymer or metal.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exit port is substantially round.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exit port is covered with a cover wherein said cover comprises at least one opening to produce foam extruded into a desired shape.
 18. A process for producing foam comprising: a. filling a solution chamber with a solution formulated to produce foam; b. attaching a perforated membrane to the open end of the solution chamber; c. attaching a foam formation chamber to the solution chamber such that said perforated membrane is positioned between said solution chamber and said foam formation chamber; d. introducing gas into said solution chamber through a gas inlet; e. continued application of gas until foam exits the foam producing chamber.
 19. The process of claim 18 wherein said solution chamber retains a solution comprising at least one solvent
 20. The process of claim 18 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber is organic or aqueous.
 21. The process of claim 18 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber is aqueous.
 22. The process of claim 18 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber is a cosolvent comprising at least one aqueous and at least one organic solvent.
 23. The process of claim 18 wherein said solvent in said solution chamber further comprises at least one surfactant.
 24. The process of claim 23 wherein said surfactant is an ionic or non-ionic surfactant.
 25. The process of claim 18 wherein said gas inlet supplies gas from outside the apparatus to the interior of the apparatus.
 26. The process of claim 25 wherein said gas is supplied through said gas inlet at a pressure between 0.1-60 psi.
 27. The process of claim 25 wherein said gas is supplied through said gas inlet at a pressure between 0.1-40 psi.
 28. The process of claim 25 wherein said gas is supplied through said gas inlet at a pressure between
 0. 1-20 psi.
 29. The process of claim 18 wherein said perforated membrane is formed with a plurality of perforations along opposing surfaces of said membrane.
 30. The process of claim 18 wherein said perforated membrane is formed of rubber, plastic, polymer or metal.
 31. The process of claim 18 wherein said exit port is substantially round.
 32. The process of claim 18 wherein said exit port is covered with a cover wherein said cover comprises at least one opening to produce foam extruded into a desired shape.
 33. Foam produced by the process of claim
 18. 